UNC hosts women's health issues research day

Statewide researchers flocked to campus Wednesday to present the latest research on women’s health issues as part of the sixth annual Women’s Health Research Day.

Projects focused on a wide range of topics concerning women’s health, including treatment options for chronic pelvic pain, the relationship between crime rates and premature births and cancer therapeutics.

“Unique issues face women,” said Rachele Peterson, a presenter from the American Social Health Association. “Women tend to be more affected by the issues and more interested in participating in the research.”

More than 30 departments and organizations at UNC attended the event on the day that Gov. Mike Easley proclaimed Women’s Health Research Day in North Carolina. Other researchers from UNC-Greensboro, East Carolina University, the N.C. State Center for Health Statistics and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences also participated.

“I think that women’s health cuts across multiple disciplines and fields across the campus,” said John Thorp Jr., UNC-CH professor of obstetrics and gynecology. “It reflects the fundamental brilliance of the program in that we really try to cut across all fields.”

The day served as both a forum for health education and a chance to network.

Katherine Hartmann, director of UNC’s Center for Women's Health Research, said the forum was an opportunity for students and employees to step back from their work and view their colleagues’ research.

“The one thing I didn’t understand when I first started working here 14 years ago was how real the open-door colleagueology is,” Hartmann said. “New connections among researchers are made on this day. It is so exciting.”

The day ended with the presentation of four awards to outstanding presenters and researchers.

The McMahon Young Investigator Award was presented to Emily Harville, a doctoral student in the UNC-CH School of Public Health, for demonstrating promise for leadership in advancing women’s health through research.

The Hulka Innovators Award was presented to Cynthia Bulik, a professor in the UNC-CH School of Medicine, in recognition of innovation in methods, populations studies, study design or studied content area.

The Judges’ Award was bestowed upon Abigail Norris Turner, a doctoral student in the public health school, for her work in an emerging and under-researched area.

The Center for Women’s Health Research Award for Excellence went to Jennifer Etnier, a UNC-G professor, for her multidisciplinary research, which judges said best demonstrated the strength of collaborative investigation to drive discovery of knowledge and achieve excellence in research.

“The judges are all nationally recognized,” Hartmann said. “The researchers view it as a chance to celebrate the excellence on this campus.”

She said the event was successful, noting the wider draw of participants from farther distances than last year’s event.

“I think women’s research is going in a positive direction,” said Harriet Kinyamu, a member of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“But there is still much more to be done. Women must become more involved.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.